Protect. Pollinate.Produce.

About

Let’s help the honey bees.

The U.S. Bee Buffer Project, an initiative of the Pollinator Partnership (P2), is looking for farmers, ranchers and orchardists in Ohio to take part in creating a foraging habitat of pollen and nectar sources — a Bee Buffer zone — small plots of land dedicated to honey bee health.

Bees will benefit.

Honey bees are valuable to the nation’s crops and economics, contributing approximately $24 billion to the U.S. economy each year. Still, U.S. honey bees are struggling with finding food to store for winter months, and our goal is to reduce their stress.

Participants benefit.

The U.S. Bee Buffer Project has a lot to offer qualified participants:

Leadership participation in a nationwide effort to support honey bees

The potential to enrich your soil and enhance pollinator habitat

Free seeds and planting information

Supplemental pollination of all flowering plants

The seed used in U.S. Bee Buffer seed mixes are not genetically modified and have not been treated with pesticides.

Are you interested in growing a Bee Buffer?

For more information about the U.S. Bee Buffer Project, email the Pollinator Partnership at bb@pollinator.org

What is a Bee Buffer?

A Bee Buffer is a piece of land 0.25 to 3 acres in size that is planted with a U.S. Bee Buffer seed mix. Because beekeepers struggle to find foraging areas to feed their bees when they are not in pollination contracts, our planned network of dedicated buffers will support the industry and improve crops and flowering plants for miles around.

Requirements

What does it take to participate?

The lack of dedicated foraging habitat puts stress on honey bees and the cropping systems the bees pollinate. To support honey bee health and our own food systems, the U.S. Bee Buffer Project invites qualified applicants to grow honey bee forage habitats in agricultural areas.

Requirements:

An active farm, orchard or ranch in Ohio

The ability to plant 0.25 to 3 acres with the U.S. Bee Buffer seed mix

A commitment to keep your Bee Buffer in place for three to five years

A willingness to allow beekeepers and researchers on-site

An openness to providing written feedback on your Bee Buffer

Are you interested? Please complete the eligibility form below to start the process.